Francis Newton Souza Painting Authentication

Absolutely. For just $99, you receive a comprehensive report that leverages our rigorous verification and valuation methods, which are rooted in evidence and not mere opinion. The detailed procedures we undertake are valued well over $1000 in the art appraisal industry. Regardless of whether an artwork is authenticated or identified as inauthentic, our reports provide insightful information that enhances your understanding of the piece’s value and contributes significantly to the future valuation of your collection. Our commitment to quality is reflected in the positive feedback from our customers, who appreciate learning the “why” behind our findings. You can read an example of our customer reviews here.

Yes. Our tailored reports offer invaluable guidance for collectors, steering them through smart acquisitions and well-timed sales to steadily increase the value of their collections. We don’t just focus on individual pieces; we consider the entire collection’s coherence and market potential. Our approach is data-driven and informed by extensive market analysis.

The chart below illustrates the success story of one of our valued clients over a year. It’s a testament to how each meticulously prepared report and advised transaction can significantly contribute to an upward trend in the overall value of a collection, all while curating an exquisite selection of art pieces. This success story showcases the power of expert validation: making informed choices leads to remarkable returns.

Yes, our authenticity assessment is highly accurate. It is not based on subjective opinions; instead, we provide tangible evidence to support our claims. This evidence consists of specific traits that are consistent across numerous verified authentic pieces, traits that are often missed even by the most skilled forgers. These authenticity cues—such as style, composition typical to an artist, stroke direction in autographs, characteristic signatures and monograms, and preferences for dedications in memorabilia—are derived from our extensive databases. Within this FAQ, we’ve included a selection of examples illustrating such cues that have enabled us to identify skilled forgeries, ones that were previously certified as authentic by professional curators relying solely on their subjective judgment.

An autopen, a device designed to replicate signatures, follows a predetermined path to mimic handwriting. Despite its precision, the autopen process isn’t flawless and often leaves behind subtle clues that it has been used. Our expertise in this area comes from owning various autopen machines and extensively studying the marks they leave. We’re familiar with the specific traits of autopen signatures, such as uniform pressure, lack of natural variation in stroke, and consistent start and end points that human signatures rarely exhibit. By examining these telltale signs in high-resolution photos, our experts can effectively differentiate between autopen signatures and genuine hand-signed inscriptions.

AI-guided authentication employs advanced machine learning algorithms trained on extensive datasets of authenticated items, such as signatures of notable individuals or verified artworks. The process involves optimizing the images for precise feature extraction, which is crucial for the AI to learn and recognize authentic characteristics. A control dataset, a mix of verified authentic signatures and known forgeries, is used to validate the model’s performance with a high level of accuracy. This accuracy provides strong confidence in the AI’s ability to authenticate signatures and artwork, making it a reliable tool in our appraisal process.

General graphology, which suggests that personality traits can be discerned from handwriting, is indeed viewed with skepticism by the scientific community. However, our service utilizes forensic graphology in a much narrower and scientifically accepted sense: we focus on the authentication of signatures and handwriting by comparing them with verified samples. This branch of forensic science is widely used in legal and law enforcement settings and is based on observable, repeatable patterns. Our application of graphological analysis is evidence-based, employing rigorous standards to match handwriting characteristics with established authentic exemplars. This method is respected and utilized in forensic investigations and is not considered pseudoscience.

Identifying a reproduction from a photograph is a nuanced process that benefits greatly from technology. We have access to comprehensive records and databases that catalog verified original prints and their characteristics. By using these resources, we can distinguish handmade reproductions from original numbered prints by observing details that may not be perceptible to the untrained eye. Our AI-powered search tools analyze the photo, comparing it with high-resolution images of authentic works to find the closest match. These advanced algorithms look for specific markers and inconsistencies that are typical of reproductions, allowing us to deliver reliable results based on extensive data and sophisticated technology.

Our collection of verified authentic samples for comparison comes from a variety of reputable and authoritative sources. These sources ensure that our comparisons are based on the most accurate and reliable images available, giving you confidence in our authentication process. This includes:

• Private Image Databases: We access high-quality, proprietary databases that are often costly and exclusive, ensuring we have a broad selection of authenticated images to use for comparison.
• Catalogue Raisonné: These comprehensive, annotated listings provide documented and photographed works of artists and are an invaluable resource for authentication purposes.
• Museum Collaborations: We partner with museums and other cultural institutions, which allows us to compare artworks and signatures against their vast collections of authenticated pieces.
• Auction Houses: We also obtain verified samples from past auction catalogs, where artworks and autographs have been authenticated by experts.

Our Complete Report serves as a comprehensive Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and goes beyond by offering evidence-based conclusions, not merely opinions. The report itself is a detailed document that substantiates the authenticity of your piece with concrete findings.

However, should you require a traditional COA for marketing or other purposes, we are pleased to provide one. This certificate will be signed by Roi S., PhD, and will reference the detailed findings in your Complete Report. This formal COA, also numbered and with a unique hologram, can be requested when your artwork receives an AUTHENTIC verdict based on our rigorous examination process.

Yes, our appraisals rigorously adhere to internationally recognized standards, ensuring that our evaluations are both accurate and ethically responsible. We align our practices with the AIC (American Institute for Conservation) Code of Ethics, and we follow the guidelines set by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Our methods also comply with SWGDOC and ANSI/ASB Standard 35.